Image: Adoration of the Magi,
El Greco, shamelessly pinched from Wiki.
The Holy Name of Jesus falls today, for reasons of shifting the calendar around to accommodate the coming transfer of Epiphany. Did you know that hundreds of thousands of male members of the Holy Name Society used to march in parade through our largest cities from at least the 1920s into the 50s? Not sure when they petered out, but Mr. W. recalls his male relatives marching back in the day. (See Formerly Grey Lady coverage from 1935.)
I'm a convert, so what do I know? But here is a today-astonishing speech to the Holy Name Society of Washington from Calvin Coolidge. Must give up using the Lord's name in vain for the new year, because low speech makes men weak.
More than six centuries ago, when in spite of much learning and much piety there was much ignorance, much wickedness and much warfare, when there seemed to be too little light in the world, when the condition of the common people appeared to be sunk in hopelessness, when most of life was rude, harsh and cruel, when the speech of men was too often profane and vulgar, until the earth rang with the tumult of those who took the name of the Lord in vain, the foundation of this day was laid in the formation of the Holy Name Society. It had an inspired purpose. It sought to rededicate the minds of the people to a true conception of the sacredness of the name of the Supreme Being. It was an effort to save all reference to the Deity from curses and blasphemy, and restore the lips of men to reverence and praise. Out of weakness there began to be strength; out of frenzy there began to be self-control; out of confusion there began to be order. This demonstration is a manifestation of the wide extent to which an effort to do the right thing will reach when it is once begun. It is a purpose which makes a universal appeal, an effort in which all may unite.
Very worth R-ing TWT.
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